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Letter from the Executive Producer
Schadenfreude is a German word that means “pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others.” It’s also the name of our comedy program.
We often find it difficult to explain the format and style of our show with just a few words or phrases. Is it sketch comedy? Is it improvised? Is it taped? Is it live? Is it like Saturday Night Live on the radio? You could probably say it’s all of the above—but we just call it Schadenfreude. In our half-hour program, we feature sketches, music, and commentary. And using comedy as the vehicle, we aim to create a cohesive, 30-minute statement that's not only entertaining, but also explores the world around us.
The Schadenfreude ensemble has written and performed sketch comedy revues throughout the Chicago area since 1998, and our goal is to translate our successful stage presence to the challenging and underused medium of radio.
Our stage show and our radio show are not the same.
The stage show is produced in the traditional sketch comedy revue style, with a series of sketches—sometimes connected, sometimes not—punctuated with lights and sound.
The radio show is more of an experiment in “theater of the mind.” We want to share comedic reflection, commentary, and insight with our listeners. So each week, our show is based on a different “concept” devised to illustrate our point of view. This concept lays the foundation for each episode. Our writers then compose pieces based on their varied experiences and approaches. As we tell students in our college workshops, comedy can originate from topics, issues, personality, experience, point of view, and emotion. The majority of our material does come from those sources. But every sketch is written within the framework of the original concept.
Each episode of our program is designed as a single, 30-minute “piece” that rewards people for listening from start to finish. Plot lines recur, characters return, and punch lines are sometimes delivered long after the original setup.
Schadenfreude is an experiment in building and sustaining a new radio format incorporating elements of the traditional comedy revue, plot-driven television, imaginative cartoons, and experimental radio—all in hopes of creating unique, retro-inspired, out-of-the-box radio comedy. The process isn't easy, but the rewards vastly outweigh the challenges.
We’re confident that the more you listen to Schadenfreude, the more comfortable you will become with how to listen to the show. So sit back and enjoy an episode from our Audio Library. For more information, visit the official Schadenfreude Theater Company Web site. And while you’re there, peruse our “Liner Notes” section for more insight into our thoughts and intentions behind specific episodes.
Thanks for continuing to listen to Schadenfreude. Come back soon.
Justin Kaufmann
Executive Producer
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